Switch-rail connection.



PATENTED AUG.13, 1907.

M. WATERS. SWITCH RAIL CONNECTION.

APPLICATION FILED APBHIB, 1907.

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UNITED STATES MINOR WATERS, OF NEW ALBANY, INDIANA.

SWITCH-RAIL CONNECTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1907.

Application filed April 18, 1907. Serial No. 368,967-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MINOR WATERS, a citizen of the United States,residing at New Albany, in the county of Floyd and State of Indiana,have invented a new and useful Switch-Rail Connection, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in switch rail connections.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction ofswitch rail connections, and to provide a simple, inexpensive andefficient device of great strength and durability, adapted to be appliedto switch rails in a comparatively short time and capable, should thetrack get slightly out of gage, of being readily adjusted, so that theswitch points will abut solidly against the rails.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable switch barof this character, which will not require repair unless injured by awreck, and which, should an engine run through the point and twist orbend the crank of the switch-stand, will be capable of adjustment toovercome the twisted crank and enable the switch-stand to be operatedwithin a few minutes, if the said crank is not too badly twisted orbent.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described,illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claimshereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form,proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope ofthe claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing :Figure 1 is a plan view of a switch rail connection,constructed in accordance with this invention and shown applied to aportion of a track. Fig. 2 is a sectional view, taken substantially onthe line x:c of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view,illustrating the adjustable connection between the switch rails and theconnecting bar.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawing.

1 designates a transverse connecting bar, extending beneath a pair ofmovable switch rails 2 and 3 and con nected at one end with a rod 4,which is designed to extend to a switch-stand, not shown, but anysuitable means may be employed for operating the connecting bar 1, aswill be readily understood.

The switch rails 2 and 3 are each connected with the bar 1 by means ofan adjustable connecting device, consisting of an upper plate or member5 and a lower plate or member 6. The upper plate or member, which isarranged upon the upper face of the connecting bar 1, has an outerinclined portion 7, arranged upon the adjacent bottom flange oi the railand provided with a vertically disposed attachment plate or portion 8.The vertically disposed attachment plate or portion 8, which fitsagainst the web of the rail, extends laterally from the inclined portionto provide a pair of projecting arms, and the projecting arms orportions are pierced by horizontal track bolts 9, or other suitablefastening devices, whereby the upper plate or member is securelyfastened to the switch rail. The upper plate or member is secured at itsinner portion to the bar 1 by means of a vertical bolt 10, which piercesthe top plate and which operates in a longitudinal slot 11 of the bar 1.The bolt 10 also pierces the outer end of the bottom plate or member 6,which is provided at its inner end with a longitudinal slot 12 for thereception of a bolt 13. The bolt 13 pierces the bar 1 and adjustablyengages the inner end of the lower plate or member.

The outer end of the lower plate or member is connected with the innerend of the upper plate or member by sides or flanges 14, which arepreferably formed integral with the upper and lower plates or members,and which cooperate with the same to provide a sleeve to slide on thebar 1. By means of the slot 11 of the bar 1 and the slot 12 of the lowerplate or member 6, the device for connecting the rails to the bar 1, isadjustably secured to the latter and there is no liability of the deviceaccidentally slipping, should one of the bolts become loose. The endportions of the bar or member 1 extend beneath each of the switch railsand the adjacent fixed rails 15 and 16, and a safe and secure device forconnecting the movable switch rails is provided. The device may beinstalled at a very small cost, and unless broken or otherwise injuredby a wreck, will not require repair. The adjustment of the switch railson the connecting bar enable such rails to be readily arranged, so thatthey will properly abut against the fixed rails. Another advantage ofthe switch rail connection is that it may be installed, or the rails maybe adjusted by one person and only a single wrench is necessary in suchoperation.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination with a movable switch rail, of a connecting barextending beneath the rail and provided with a slot, an upper plate ormember arranged on the connecting bar and extending over the bottomflange of the switch rail and provided at the web thereof with avertical plate or portion, said vertical plate or portion being extendedlaterally to form arms, which are secured to the web of the rail, 21lower plate or member provided at its inner end with a slot, an outerfastening device piercing the upper and lower plates or members andoperating in the slot of 10 member extending inwardly from the saidflanges, and

fastening devices for securing the upper and lower plates or members tothe connecting bar.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoatlixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MINOR WATERS.

Witnesses \VILLLUI Hi lir'r, Louis IIUNLQW.

